It's official...

[Borescope]

It's about being the world's number one airline, not about how they can save money, or to preserve jobs.

Have fun you guys...

If UA and CO marry, DL's pride at being the "world's number one airline" will end before it ever gets off the ground.

These "Southern Gentlemen: managers have no idea what they have gotten themselves into.

 

[LukeAisleWalker]

DTW is a dying/dead city and MEM is too close to ATL. My bet is close MEM and DTW as hubs and keep CVG. Corporate politics...fewer pro-union personnel in CVG.

Close DTW? Have you seen NW's new facility there? You're really not very educated, are you? You should read more literature besides the Delta Digest. Start with this:


http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...150395/1001/BIZ

 

[ANDROMEDA]

You guys (NW and DL employees) ....

you need to make a copy of this and keep it for the future: [THE PROMISES - what the company is trying to sell you today] http://www.newglobalairline.com/employees/

Delta does a great job at twisting things. Not even a year ago, Delta adamantly refused to participate in a merger, stating that [THEY] would be a much more viable airline if they stayed independent - A STAND-ALONE CARRIER.

http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10454
http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10467

That was the message they were urgently selling back then.

It was a similar tactic used to convince Delta employees, a few years before, that RJ's were the way to go - and that owning regional carriers was the solution for Delta staying out of bankruptcy - something that turned out not to be true either. Literally every BS story that Delta has sold its employees has been absorbed by them.

I have a feeling that Delta is going to be successfully feeding their employees the above promises.

Just make sure you keep your stuff documented, because in a couple of years, when they start downsizing and laying off, you can at least show those promises. As it is right now, a merger between carriers means one thing - restructuring, downsizing and ultimately the jobs that GO with that.

 

[southwind]

But you have soooo much to worry about, like those last two steps "Regulatory approval, and DOJ".

Until then spend your kisses on your new Delta BOD Doug Steenland...

Are you blind ? Steenlands gone come what ? June , July when he gets his 8+ million dollars !

Approval? Don't really think thats going to be a problem !

A lot of wishful thinking on your part NxNW ! I feel sorry for people like you !

 

[tech2101]

Was that before or after Doug Steenland Slapped yours with a foot up the?...and is now planning on sitting on the BOD of the "NEW" Delta. How's that working out for ya.

Like I said...you certainly know ahead of time what the Feds will do...did you do your google yet? That's Ual/US merger.

Actually, it is working out just fine. The stock that I have left that was dumped on me as a former employee after the bankruptcy, will now actually have some value. I was one of the fortunate ones who sold all I could way back when at $59/share.

That kick out the door was the best thing that ever happened to me and several of my former co-workers. We were all married to the company due to high seniority. Steenland and Roberts took care of that for us.

Good luck on your new career with Delta. They are busy buying blue paint for all of those red tails.

 

[luv2fly]

My god... he actually thinks his old Delta will control things. You're dreaming if you think this will pass. HQ...whoopee. Who's your CEO and half the BOD?

Technically, Anderson works for DL, so that is 7 board members from DL, 5 from NW, and one from ALPA.

 

[luv2fly]

If UA and CO marry, DL's pride at being the "world's number one airline" will end before it ever gets off the ground.

I really don't think this merger was proposed simply to become the largest carrier in the world. I am quite sure that DL knows a proposed CO/UA could possibly eclipse their own. I say possibly because nobody at this point knows what DOJ divestitures would be necessary in order to give their blessing.
IMO,DL's and NW's route structures compliment each other more so than any other combination. That in combination with DL's lack of Asian presence is what led to this proposed merge IMO.
Whether or not it gets consummated is another story.

 

[PHLfa88]

This is so much fun to watch unfold.

First, Delta and NW managers thought they could rewrite history by letting the pilots work out their seniority issues aforehand. They thought they could do it better than AWA-US. Yet, it didn't take much time for DL-NW managment to get a big slap in the face; so they had to wake up and force this merger, the way it should have been done to begin with.... What they don't know yet is that the war between DL-NW pilots will be an even bigger one than the one US-AW pilots are having.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the war.... I mean show.

Just the fact that you guys already hate each other is so much fun to watch.

The incompatible fleets, though will probably keep you guys separate for a while... I believe that you guys won't merge certificates for a long time.

I have one good news for NW folks though. Enjoy Delta's new logos to come. Delta loves spending billions of dollars thinking of new logos to introduce every couple of years. With that of course all the money they spend in changing everything from counters and all other non-essential stuff. If you didn't know this, America West and US AIRWAYS decided to keep the old US logo/name in order to preserve money and because it was easier to change/add the old logo/name to the smaller AWA. The AWA/US merger was always money conscious. Not everything worked out easely, but that happened so far at every company that merged before, including Adobe/Macromedia. The bottom line is that cost needs to stay low, something that "money-wasting" Delta never learned - not even in bankruptcy.

Alone due to the last reason, this merger is going to unnecessarily cost at least one billion more than the US/AWA merger - just because Delta LOVES throwing away money. Now this is only speculation.... but I also speculated a few years ago that Delta was going to change logos, well.... for the sake of changing logos - and they did - twice.

At Delta, it is utmost important to keep the name. It's about pride in the name (a pissing contest) and being the world's number one airline, not about how they can save money, or to preserve jobs.

Have fun you guys...

Did I Not Hear All The News Reports Right..DAL Is BUYING NWA...Where Does That Play? :unsure: :unsure:

 

[USAir757]

Delta does a great job at twisting things. Not even a year ago, Delta adamantly refused to participate in a merger, stating that [THEY] would be a much more viable airline if they stayed independent - A STAND-ALONE CARRIER.

That was the message they were urgently selling back then.

It was a similar tactic used to convince Delta employees, a few years before, that RJ's were the way to go - and that owning regional carriers was the solution for Delta staying out of bankruptcy - something that turned out not to be true either. Literally every BS story that Delta has sold its employees has been absorbed by them.

They were selling the stand-alone carrier to avoid a hostile takeover from US/HP, and were paying less than half for fuel than they are now. In these ever changing times, if you don't adapt to your environment, you die. The RJ's didn't keep the company out of BK, but they certainly kept the airline flying and not at a stand-still... which you can argue allowed them to come out of BK faster and in better shape. Delta may be twisting things, but your suggestion that what they said a year ago is an example of that is pretty ridiculous. And with regard to logos, have you heard that they are changing the logo and/or liveries to something other than what they have already? Didn't think so. So let's hear what other BS stories do you have to share?

 

[cooper43]

My god... he actually thinks his old Delta will control things. You're dreaming if you think this will pass. The War started today. This will not even make it to the DOJ. NW pilots are out for blood...with most rank and file behind them (Congressman Oberstar leading the way)


Even if this thing passes, you will soon learn who is running this company.( you'd better re-read that BOD list and CEO real close) Delta was just handed over to NW, lock stock and barrel, from the inside out. You kept the name and HQ...whoopee. Who's your CEO and half the BOD?

What would stop Delta doing the same thing that NWA did to thier Mechanics when they went on strike and replaced most of them. If NWA pitched a fit and couldnt negotiate in good faith then Could Delta just let them strike and replace thier employees with new hires? Just a question, dont go all crazy on me. I want to just have a diologue.

 

[MMB]

What would stop Delta doing the same thing that NWA did to thier Mechanics when they went on strike and replaced most of them. If NWA pitched a fit and couldnt negotiate in good faith then Could Delta just let them strike and replace thier employees with new hires? Just a question, dont go all crazy on me. I want to just have a diologue.

Western AMTs were union... didn't happen in '86.

 

[ggiby]

don't know if this link is somewhere else... but ran across this on a USAirways website...
java script😱l('http://newglobalairline.com/');

 

[DalMD88]

What would stop Delta doing the same thing that NWA did to thier Mechanics when they went on strike and replaced most of them. If NWA pitched a fit and couldnt negotiate in good faith then Could Delta just let them strike and replace thier employees with new hires? Just a question, dont go all crazy on me. I want to just have a diologue.

Well things would play out differently at DL. Without a union in the hangar there would be little chance of a strike. If DL wanted to they could just layoff the entire operation or even handpick those that were furloughed. I don't think either of these are in the playbook. In the past they have done senority based furloughs. The big worry is when the merger gets approved. Most wonder if the current roster of line stations will stay in tact. NW has outsourced most of theirs. We wonder how those stations will be intigrated with the current DL stations in cities like BOS and SEA. The other big worry is will they pull down hubs like CVG and lose much of mainline. This would mean cuts on MTC personnel.

The party line right now is no cuts. This could be true even with a pull down in CVG. Jobs there would go away, but others like SEA would see increases in manpower. Those positions would go to DL/NW displaced mechanics before contract mechanics. Would those mechanics displaced from a station like CVG choose to relocate? I personaly doubt many would. The company then gets to spin no jobs were lost. They get to furlough high time top of scale mechanics and hire off the street at the entry payscale.

The recent buyout option was all about that. The only people it was offered to were top of scale. The target was 2000 people from any job title or division and nobody would be turned down. To me that means if there are shortages in an area after it all shakes out they hire new off the street at entry wage.

 

[bdazzled]

How many active AMTs are at NWA? I have heard there are approximately 800 total maintaining a fleet of almost 400 mainline jets. If this is somewhat correct, does anyone have any idea where the maintenance is being done and at what price?

Delta has an extremely efficient maintenance program, and what, if any, might be coming inhouse, leading to growth and a possible recall of the NWA furloughed AMTs. Delta AMTs that are on furlough have been able to return if they chose to change their recall station to Atlanta.

 

[DalMD88]

Most airlines in the US have outsourced a lot of the heavy check work that used to employ thousands of mechanics at the airline. NW did this and went a step further. They outsourced nearly all of the line stations. All that remain are DTW and MSP. In places like BOS and SEA the operations were paired down to a few NW employed lead mechanics and a contrator like Swissport was brought in to provide mechanics.

Line station outsourcing isn't unheard of. Nearly all airlines actually do it to some degree. In many small forgien stations it is real common. An Etops aircraft needs a inspection before it can return back across the pond. Only one mechanic is typically needed for this check. Manning a station handle one or two flights a day doesn't make sence. So it gets outsourced to a company like Swissport or even another airline. In BOS DL handles Iceland, Alitalia, and Air France. We also have contracts to handle other airlines should they break while at our station.

Some only bring in contract guys when they have a heavy work load. I know ABX did this in ATL. They had a hand full of mechanics that could take care of daily push ops, but some days they would send in a airplane that was due a service check. They called in contractors to assist with the check. Most were DL mechanics that were working it as a second part time job. NW is doing this every day. Many of us question the quality of the workforce you get at the wages these contract outfits pay.

Will DL keep the contract line operations? Most of us think they will not. Will the ranks be filled with furloughed NW mechanics? Some will come back if they offer them positions but many are MSP and DTW guys. Many have also moved on to other jobs. I've heard FedEx is filled with ex Red Tails.